Head ‘Em Off at the Pass

Dewi Ruci Underpass Project Ready to Proceed in Bali Once Remaining Three Parcels of Land Needed for Road Project Secured

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(11/4/2011)

The Dewa Ruci Underpass project, originally scheduled to commence construction in mid-November 2011 in order to complete its estimated 18-month construction period in time for the APEC Summit in 2013, may be delayed due to unresolved land acquisition issues.

Beritabali.com reports that three plots of land owned by three separate owners, who are currently abroad, are needed for the road project to go ahead. The three remaining land owners have yet to enter into negotiations with the government for the transfer of their lands to the State.

The secretary of Commission III of the Bali House of Representatives (DPRD-Bali), I Gusti Made Suryanta Putra, on Thursday, November 3, 2011, expressed the concern that the failures to acquire all the needed land in a timely manner may delay the project, seen as critical to helping Bali overcome its growing traffic congestion problem.

Suyanta told the press that the three property owners have principally agreed that their land can be used for building the proposed underpass, although these discussions have only taken place over the telephone.

Added Suyanta: "In this regard, the Badung regional government must quickly find a solution. If, in a short period of time, the land status for the three property owners is still not clear then meetings will be held with the owners abroad.”

The Dewa Ruci Underpass Project

Once construction does begin, initial work will involve the widening of the current roadway on Jalan Bypass Ngurah Rai to the north and south of the Dewa Ruci monument.

When the widening of the current roadway is completed, cement retaining walls will be built below ground level running 400 meters to the north and 400 meters to the south.

The use of retaining walls is being done to anticipate a possible inundation of ground water that, should it occur, will be pumped out through the use of stand-by pumping stations.

When completed, the tunnels built for the underpass will stretch some 800 meters with a width of 18 meters and a height of 5.2 meters. According the developers, the position of the actual underpass will be precisely at the middle of the current Bypass.

The construction of the new underpass will consume Rp. 179 billion (US$19.8 million) including Rp. 50 billion (US$5.5 million) for land acquisition covering 6.2 hectares of land. Extrapolated that's the equivalent of an average Rp. 806 million (US$89,600) per are.

An are of land is equal to 100 square meters of land.

The tenders for the construction of the project have reportedly been awarded meaning that once land issues are resolved construction can begin immediately.